Psalm 77:6–11 6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: And my spirit made diligent search. 7Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? 8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? 9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10And I said, This is my infirmity: But I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. 11I will remember the works of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
Asaph fought the funk!
Webster’s defines “funk” as “a depressed state of mind”[1]
Asaph had it and he fought it!
Yesterday, we read that the that he showed some serious signs of the funk.
Psalm 77:2–5 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My sore ran in the night, and ceased not: My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.
Asaph can’t find comfort in anything, he constantly felt overwhelmed, couldn’t sleep, doesn’t want to speak, lives in the past at the expense of the present, that certainly sounds like depression to me.
This morning, I would like to focus on what Asaph did to find his way out of this fog.
I don’t want to oversimplify the treatment for such things. I recognize through personal and familial experience that there are medical reasons for depression. It is my firm belief that treating this condition often requires mental, physical and spiritual attention. Since the Bald Believer ain’t a licensed doctor or therapist I will just focus on the spiritual.
So, what did Asaph do to fight the funk?
1. He Sung to Himself
Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night…
Asaph fought his funk by remembering a song in the night.
He couldn’t sing, so he sung!
It is amazing to me how a song can speak to the heart.
There is something special about the delivery method of a melody. Wrapping truth in music allows the heart to receive what it might otherwise reject.
I have on many an occasion had a song speak to my need. It is one thing to hear but so much more effective when you engage all your senses and sing.
I read where a medical missionary went to treat a poor community of lepers where one woman in the worst condition of them all sang loudly and proudly the hymns of the faith. The missionary approached her and praised her singing. “You must be feeling well today to sing so loud and well” she said. The woman with a face full of tears said, "O Doctor, my sores hurt so badly I must sing!"
We often sing because we are happy but there is great healing in singing when we are sad.
There is another way in which Asaph fought the funk.
2. He Spoke to Himself
Psalm 77:6 …I commune with mine own heart…
Do you ever talk to yourself? You should try it, seriously!
Isn’t that right Jason?
Jason says you should.
Asaph did, he asked himself questions in order to fight the funk.
Look at the questions he asked, I believe the answers are obvious.
Question
Will the Lord cast off for ever? Psalm 77:7
Answer
Of course not! The he has promised that he will not!
Lamentations 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
… will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Psalm 77:7–8
Answer
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Question
…Doth his promise fail for evermore? Psalm 77:8
Answer
1 Kings 8:56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
Question
Psalm 77:9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
Answer
Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
For each question, the Word of God had an answer that eventually brought the Psalmist hope and gave us a great example.
Dear struggling Christian, take some advice from a fellow believer who has been where you are and often still is, fight the funk with supplication, singing and self-communion. Talk to God, talk to yourself and look for answers in God’s Word.
Asaph fought the funk, I am following in his footsteps and I hope you will too!
Scripture Readings for 6/24/20